QUESTION Hi , am 31 weeks pregnant and had to take Malareich as my Anti malaria drug. I did not take the drug until I felt I had malaria, because I had body pains and headaches. Please advise if I will be ok after taking the malareich. ANSWER Malareich is a combination drug comprising of sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine, which is one of the medications recommended for treatment of malaria in … [Read more...]
Ingestion of Malaria Blood
QUESTION If someone were to eat/ingest the blood of an infected individual would they become infected with malaria? If an infected person's blood was on their hands and they handled food, would eating the food put others at risk for malaria? ANSWER No, you would not get infected with malaria, as the malaria parasites must be transmitted into a person's blood directly in order for them to … [Read more...]
Malaria Transmission
QUESTION How is malaria transmitted? ANSWER Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells. Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by an infective female Anopheles mosquito. Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and they … [Read more...]
Hereditary Malaria
QUESTION Can malaria be passed on through heredity? ANSWER In the vast majority of cases, malaria is only transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito. However, if a pregnant woman becomes infected with malaria, she can pass the parasite to her unborn child via the placenta, or via blood transfer during childbirth. An infection in a newborn child, caused by infection in the mother … [Read more...]
Can I Catch Malaria from Someone?
QUESTION My fiancee contracted malaria a few years ago. It was diagnosed as recurring. Could I contract malaria from the infected person, I have had similar symptoms which last a day or two, recurring with regular two week intervals, of which the most concerning are malaise, fever, stiff neck, headaches and severe pains over abdomen spreading into my mid back. What should I … [Read more...]
Passing Malaria to Baby
QUESTION I contracted Malaria 3.5 years ago (either in Uganda or Rwanda). I believe it was the Plasmodium falciparum strain. Upon my diagnosis, I was treated and have been healthy since. In regards to pregnancy, is it safe for me to have a baby? What are the chances of passing the malaria virus to the baby? ANSWER First of all, malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite, not a … [Read more...]